Health Care Solution ?

I think most people realize that we have a health care crises in this country. We have 40-50 million people who have no health insurance at all [and most of these people are working]. Even those who have health coverage through their employer are finding that the health plan they get covers less with each passing year. We are the only industrial nation that does not provide health care coverage for all of it's citizens.

Massachusetts is trying to solve this problem in their state. The state legislature has just passed a bill requiring health coverage for all citizens by July 1, 2007. The bill has remarkable bi-partisan support. It passed the House by 154-2 and was approved by the Senate 37-0. The governor has said he will sign the bill into law.

One way they have reached this bi-partisanship is by taking ideas from both sides in the debate. Conservatives generally favor personal responsibility and liberals generally favor employer mandates. Both ideas are included in the plan.

The plan has the following elements:
1. Everyone must be insured by July 1, 2007.
2. Those making less than $9,500 a year will get coverage with no premiums or deductibles.
3. Between $9500 and 300% of poverty level will pay on a sliding scale with no deductibles.
4. Businesses not providing insurance will pay a $295 fee per employee anually.
5. An individual who is not covered by 7/1/2007 will face a fine of over $1000 yearly.
6. Other individuals and businesses should see a small drop in their premiums.

Massachusetts says the plan should cost $316 million the first year, and more than $1 billion by the third year. They are not raising taxes, and say the program will be funded with federal reimbursements and state dollars.

I don't know if the program will work, or not. I generally favor a single-payer system, but I must admit that I am intrigued by this program. At least, they are making a real attempt to cover all their residents. If they are successful, we could soon be seeing other states follow suit. We must find a way to give health care coverage to all our citizens. Anything less is unacceptable.